Boy, the Wolves just keep on winning, eh. Nice to see our two apparent top prospects in Chicago get some goals finally. Just maybe, Schroeder just might get into the Top 100 in scoring on the AHL scoring leaders list after tonight. Kassian has about 30 names to jump to get into that category.

Nice night for Gaunce. Still holding out hope that Gaunce, Jensen and Corrado may save the day for ol' Gillis there, there rest are complete shite. I mean, Rodin, what a superstar. Where is Mallet?

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? - Plastics." - The Graduate

RoyalDude wrote:Boy, the Wolves just keep on winning, eh. Nice to see our two apparent top prospects in Chicago get some goals finally. Just maybe, Schroeder just might get into the Top 100 in scoring on the AHL scoring leaders list after tonight. Kassian has about 30 names to jump to get into that category.

Nice night for Gaunce. Still holding out hope that Gaunce, Jensen and Corrado may save the day for ol' Gillis there, there rest are complete shite. I mean, Rodin, what a superstar. Where is Mallet?

Mallet? 4 goals and 3 assists in last 6 ECHL games.
Gaunce? 6 goals and 6 assists in his last 7 games.
Schroeder? 2 goals, 2 assists in his last 4 games. (they changed Schroeder's goal to Matheson from last night's game, or he'd have another)
Kassian? 1 goal, 5 assists in his last 4 games.

I feel sorry for Chicago fans that bought a ticket to see Justin Schultz, Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins --- not in the lineup --- and they also won't see Chris Tanev, Zack Kassian, Jordan Schroeder, or Andrew Ebbett.

RoyalDude wrote:Boy, the Wolves just keep on winning, eh. Nice to see our two apparent top prospects in Chicago get some goals finally. Just maybe, Schroeder just might get into the Top 100 in scoring on the AHL scoring leaders list after tonight. Kassian has about 30 names to jump to get into that category.

Kassian has 20 points in 28 games.

His total body of work at the AHL level is 22-24-46 in 58 games. Very solid production for a guy projected as a second liner with size and toughness and not a first line scorer.

RoyalDude wrote:Listen Potluck, I like Kassian but I had expected him to be in the top 50 in scoring in the AHL and not on the outside of 100 looking in.

This, I agree with, however, I think it's a combination of not having line mates who work well with him and a coaching system which doesn't lend itself to Kassian's strengths. I don't consider 20 points in 28 games to be a failure. Disappointing - yeah.

RoyalDude wrote:Listen Potluck, I like Kassian but I had expected him to be in the top 50 in scoring in the AHL and not on the outside of 100 looking in.

Having watched him a lot this season, there are two "flaws" I see with Kassian that hopefully he will work to change:

1) He doesn't seem driven. He seems to take a carefree attitude towards his job, whereas I would like to see him bear down and take advantage of his size and strength to dominate and embarrass weaker opponents... and enjoy it.
2) He seems to abandon physical play to try to make fancy passes - reminds me a lot of Bertuzzi. I believe he needs to continue to deliver the physical play - hits on the forecheck, fights to protect linemates, and standing in front of the net (of which, to be fair, he has done a decent job)

I think the best thing for Kassian would be to fall into a designated physical/playmaking role on a line like what happened to Clark Gillies playing with Trottier and Bossy --- I think if the role is obvious and successful, he will take to it and excel.